How do you prepare for Iron Chef?

I like to thank you for coming to cheftalk. I would like also to say your family is very nice up in Seattle at Salumi. How do you get ready for Iron Chef and do you know they are going to pick you before the match begins? Do you know the secret ingredient before the show?

To get ready for Iron Chef, my team and I talk over our overall strategy and mentally get in the game. We do know who will be competing before the show, but we don’t know the secret ingredient. It’s ok though – it keeps things fair and interesting!